Method of treating water in manufacturing ice.



Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

MW W M IW E m an 0.0.PEGK. 7 METHOD OF TREATING WATER IN MANUFACTURINGICE.

; APPLIOATION FILED FEB-23, 1911.

\ZOLUMBM FLANOGRAPH c0" WASHINGTON, u. c.

CASSIUS CARROLL PEGK, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

METHOD OF TREATING HATER IN MANUFACTURING ICE.

Application filed February 23, 1911.

.new and useful Method of Treating Water in Manufacturing Ice, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates primarily to the art of manufacturing ice and hasfor its principal object the use of fresh water rather than distilledwater.

It has heretofore been customary in the mechanical production of ice todistil water and use the resulting water of condensation for freezinginto blocks, as by this method both air and solid matter are eliminatedfrom the water. The process of distillation is however costly, and icemade from distilled water is liable to be stained by oil contained inexhaust steam commonly used. It moreover multiplies apparatus, increasesamount of attention and work required, calls for somewhat more skilledwork, and tends to lengthen time required for production. My methodtakes any ordinary good water and subjects it to proper temperature forsufficient length of time to drive off practically all air and kill allgerms, then preferably filters the water and delivers it to freezingapparatus. Only one pump is ordinarily required for handling the waterand even that can be dispensed with where reservoir orstreet pressure issuflicient. Ice made by this process is clear, dense, free from oilstains and practically from air bubbles, and accordingly is attractivein appearance and of durable quality. ater. containing air bubbles ismore or less white in-appearance and the air bubbles tend to collect inthe central portion of can-made block ice, giving it a dull appearanceand decreasing its solidity and durability.

In the accompanying drawings the method is illustrated in simple mannerto show proper application mechanically of the principles involved, themethod being adapted for application on either a large scale or a'smallscale.

Figure 1 is an elevation of apparatus suited for carrying out my methodof removing air from water and preparing it for being frozen into blockice. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the automatic boiler feeder, the viewbeing a central vertical section of the valve case and the float caseand the elevation Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

Serial No. 610,438.

of the float with compound lever, valve stem and balanced valve. Fig. 3is an enlarged view of the steam heating chamber for treating freshwater, showing the shell in elevation with sufficient broken away toreveal the internal construction. Fig. 4 is a central vertical sectionof fittings used in the counter current cooler in connection withrunning the water supply pipe within the water discharge pipe.

Numeral l in Fig. 1 indicates a steam generator which may be of anypreferred deslgn, normal water level therein being indi cated by brokenline 1*, a smoke-stack connection 6 being shown with a damper 6*. Steamfrom this generator flows through pipe 2 having stop valve 2 into thecylindrical steam chamber 3 having dished heads 3, as shown more fullyin Fig. 1, from which chamber operative steam is supplied through pipe 4having stop valves 45* and 4 to the water supply pump 5 which has anexhaust steam pipe 5*, a water suction pipe 5 and a water delivery pipe5, through which said water flows to the steam chamber 3, and thencethrough pipe 3 to boiler 1. It is discharged through pipe 7 and pipe 7 aand also 7 b into filter 8,which in turn discharges through pipe 8 intotank 9, which is provided with a floating cover 10 and a hosedistributing pipe 11 with stop valve 11 for controlling delivery ofdeaerated water into freezing cans 12 which are set in brine tank 13 inwhich the brine level is maintained at about 13 Fig. 2 shows the floatcase 16 of the automatic feeder in section and the float 17 inelevation, together with the attached compound lever 17 which operatesthe steam supply valve 18 of pump 5. lVater level 16 in the case isshown as corresponding to water level 1 in the boiler, as indicated bywater gage 16. A stop valve 1 in the steam pipe 41 can be used to shutoff steam from the inlet side of automatic valve 18, and the valve 46*can be used to close pipe 4 at this point and compel steam to flowthrough valves 49 and 18 in reaching pump 5. A steam equalizing pipe 41and a water equalizing pipe 1 give necessary communication with theboiler.

In Fig. 3 the heads 3 of steam chamber 3 are bolted on to the shell 3*to allow of re moval. The shell has a lagging 3 to prevent waste ofheat, and is supported on cradies 3 which are carried on stanchions 1supported by the shell of boiler 1. Vater trays 3 are set level andwater overflows in succession from the top tray to the bottom tray andthence flows through pipe 3 into the boiler.

Fig. 4 shows a gland fitting, the stuffing box 15 having a cap 15 and ascrewed T 15 The return at opposite end of these pipes is formed of tworeducing Ts 16 and 16 usually 2%X1fl-Xl inches, the inside pipe having along thread for projecting through the T to receive a coupling 5 asshown in Fig. 1, or the coupling can be omitted and the elbow 5 screwedon the end which projects from T 16. Flanges 5 and 7 connect the pipes 5and 7* respectively.

Operation ofthe system is as follows: Steam is first generated in boiler1 from which it flows through pipe 2 and stop valve 2 into steam chamber8 until the latter is fully charged with steam at boiler pressure. Steampump 5 can then be started by opening stop valve 4 so that steam mayflow from the steam chamber through pipe 4 to the pump, or said valvemay be closed and steam conducted to the pump through valve 4" andautomatic valve 18 which latter maintains a nearly uniform water levelin the boiler by rising and sinking of the water level float 17 whichacts through compound lever 17 to open and close the attached balancedvalve. "When the float sinks it closes the valve 18 and when it rises toa predetermined point it opens said valve The 'pump draws its supply ofwater through suction pipe 5 from any suitable source and delivers itthrough pipe 5 and the counter current cooler-heater composed of pipes 7and 5, as shown by unfeathered arrows, into the upper tray 3 of steamchamber 3. As each tray is filled, the water overflows in thin films,drops, or little streams, into the tray beneath, thus exposing a greatextent of surface to contact of steam, the trays being suitably formedfor collecting and retaining solid matter precipitated from the water byaction of heat. Such matter can be disposed of as need requires byunbolting and opening one or both ends of the chamber, which can beconveniently done by swinging the dished heads from eye-bolts 3 by meansof one or two tackle blocks with accompanying .ropes. The trays can thenbe removed, cleaned and replaced and the end covers secured in place. Inflowing through and over the trays the water is exposed to such intimatecontact with the atmosphere of steam which surrounds it that it becomesquickly heated to about steam temperature and remains in this conditionmost of the time it takes to pass through the steam chamber. Thisresults in expanding all air contained in the water by entrainment, orthrough being dissolved therein, which consequently assumes the form ofsmall bubbles and these bubbles being lighter than the surroundingwater, escape from the water into the steam space while solid matterprecipitated from the water remains in the trays or adheres to theoutside thereof, thus affording eflicient means of purifying the waterand further preparing it for being frozen into ice of the best quality.Steam pressure in chamber 3 is preferably such as to properly operatepump 5, and therefore of such temperature as to kill all living germs inthe water, making the water as satisfactroy in this respect as thatderived from condensation of steam. From the bottom portion of the steamchamber the treated water flows into boiler 1 through pipe 3 in order toretain the water as long as practicable under action of heat, but it maybe conducted direct from said chamber to the counter current cooler, asshown in broken line, valve 7 being closed and valve 1& in pipe 14 beingopen. In order to remove all solid matter from the water and give itcrystalline cleariness it is preferably passed through a filter ofsuitable design, the typical one shown at 8 indicating one in whichfilter paper or cloth is used as the filtering medium but which isintended to signify any good filter. From the filter water flows throughpipe 8 into tank 9 which is intended for storage purposes. As requiredthe cans 12, in which the water is frozen, are filled through hose l1controlled by valve 11 Freezing is effected by brine which fills tank 13up to the level 13 and which therefore surrounds the sides of the cans.As the freezing process does not constitute a part of this invention, itis not necessary to enter into any description of this step in the artof making ice, it being suflicient to say only that when the water hasbeen frozen the resulting blocks of ice will be clear and dense and thateither plate ice or can ice maintained to suit operation of pump 5, or

other connected steam-driven apparatus. The process of eliminating airand precipitating solids is expedited by high temperatures, hence it isdesirable to employ steam at pressures ordinarily employed in drivingpumps, engines and other power apparatus, but lower temperatures whichare above the boiling point of water will suflice by giving increasedtime for heat action 011 the water. To avoid any appreciable absorptionof air by water which has been subjected to heat treatment, a float-ingcover 10 is provided for tank 9 to prevent contact of the water with theatmosphere. As fresh surface water often contains air to the extent offive per cent. of its bulk, it is necessary'to provide for constantremoval of the air which is expelled from the water under treatment,hence a certain volume of mingled air and steam must be constantlyWithdrawn from boiler 1 and steam chamber 3. The volume of air thuswithdrawn must equal that which is expelled from the water. Thiscondition is provided for in taking steam from steam chamber 3 foroperating pump 5, and more steam may be taken for other purposes.

An automatic boiler feeder, of which the one illustrated in Figs. 1 and2 is typical, is preferably used in connection with this system, as thefloat 17 will control steam supply to pump 5 so that water shall be delivered into steam chamber 3 as fast as it is allowed to escape from theboiler. Not only will water level in the boiler thus be maintainednearly constant, but equal volumes of water flowing in oppositedirections through the counter current cooler-heater will have capacityfor pretty fully exchanging temperatures to the end of expediting theprocess of treatment and economizing heat. The counter current exchangercan be variously constructed and the particular form shown is simply acompact arrangement indicative of any suitable construction foreffecting the same end.

I do not in any respect confine myself to the particular apparatus shownand described as illustrating my method of preparing raw water for beingfrozen into blocks of ice, as various modifications are required to suitlocations and conditions of use While not departing from the general andessential method herein shown and described.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis 1. The method of preparing water for icemaking, consisting in heatingand constantly maintaining the water above its boiling point untilpractically all air is expelled therefrom in a receptacle closed againstthe atmosphere; maintaining a steam space in said receptacle; connectingsaid steam space with steam using apparatus adapted to constantlywithdraw steam and air from the receptacle; and continuously supplyinguntreated water to the receptacle and discharging treated watertherefrom in such manner that the outgoing water heats the incomingwater.

2. The method of expelling air from water for ice-making, consisting inheating and constantly maintaining the water above its boiling pointunder atmospheric pressure until practically all air is expelledtherefrom in a receptacle closed against the atmosphere; maintaining asteam space above the water in said receptacle; operating mechanism forsupplying water to the receptacle by steam drawn from said steam spaceand continuously supplying untreated water to the receptacle anddischarging water therefrom in such manner as to heat the inflowingwater by transfer of heat from the outfiowing water.

3. The method of preparing water for icemaking, consisting inmaintaining the water above its boiling point at atmospheric pres sureuntil practically all air is expelled therefrom in a receptacle closedagainst the atmosphere; automatically maintaining a steam space abovethe water space in said receptacle; operating apparatus by steamconstantly withdrawn from said space; delivering raw water into theupper part of the receptacle in such manner as to compel it to flowslowly through a succession of trays adapted to retain solid mattercontained in the water; and continuously supplying untreated water tothe receptacle and Withdrawing treated water therefrom in such manner asto heat the incoming water by transfer of heat from the outgoing water;

4:. The method of preparing Water for icemaking, consisting in heatingby live steam from a boiler the water above its boiling point atatmospheric pressure until practically all air has been expelledtherefrom in a receptacle closed against the atmosphere and placed abovethe water level in the boiler; connecting the water outlet from saidreceptacle into the boiler; feeding the boiler through said receptacle;automatically governing water level in the boiler conjointly with supplyto the receptacle; and discharging the treated water from the boilerthrough a heat exchanger which heat-s inflowing untreated Water by theoutgoing treated Water.

CASSIUS CARROLL PECK.

Witnesses:

CLARENCE W. CARROLL, JAMES MALLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of .Patents, Washington, I). G.

